Information about conditions
is provided as a service to our patients for educational purposes only. "If
you understand your condition, you will be able to do the things necessary to
rehabilitate much faster." Please feel free to print the information so
that you can refer to it often. Sharing of information is quite risky, however.
Do not presume that information is meant for you if you have not seen the doctor
and received a specific diagnosis. Some conditions share similar symptoms but
require very different treatment. If you have friends or family who may have
similar symptoms, pleaseschedule
an appointmentto see the doctor.

Cervical Brachial Syndrome

Cervical Brachial Syndrome is primarily a stretching of the Brachial
plexus. This is generally caused by a breakdown of the normal mechanical function
of the neck and is characterized by the sharp, radiating pain in the neck, shoulder
arm and/or hand. Pain in usually not increased when coughing, sitting or bearing
down as would be the case in a disc lesion but is aggravated by stomach sleeping,
hyperextension movements.

DISCUSSION: The cervical brachial syndrome
is common in today's population. The increasing amounts of time spent in
front of the computer tend to increased dysfunction of the neck joints and
allow for the early fatigue of the postural muscles and allow for stretching
of the Brachial plexus of nerves. Proper sitting techniques and stress reduction
help reduce the frequency and intensity of pain. If left untreated, this
common problem gives rise to surgical intervention. When treated properly,
the mechanical dysfunction is restored, the muscular components strengthened
and the nerves may be allowed to heal if left unaggravated. Proper healing
may take up to 6 months while acute phase treatment is often effective within
2-3 months. Restored mobility of the spine, regular exercise and modification
of aggravating life style habits are all necessary for restoration.

Treatment frequency is usually daily for 3-7 days and then three
times a week for 3-6 weeks. After that, realignment of the vertebra must be
performed to prevent eventual return of this condition. It can be accomplished
in 30-60 days of reduced frequency management. Often once a week treatment is
sufficient at that point to restore alignment. Thereafter, this condition can
be reasonably avoided with monthly correction of spinal alignment.

After the first few days of treatment, you will be given a sheet
of stretching exercises to do at home. This is to help reduce the treatment
time and speed healing. It is very important for you to do these daily as prescribed.
If you have any questions about them or difficulty or pain on performing them,
please tell the doctor right away.

Several days following the initiation of treatment, more aggressive
exercise routines will be proscribed for you. You will be taken to the rehabilitation
center and instructed on how to use the computer monitored exercise routines
specifically designed for this condition. The routines are monitored for completion
and graduated in difficulty after certain numbers of routines have been completed.
You will be expected to perform these routines after treatment during the initial
part of the restorative phase and throughout the rehabilitative phase of your
treatment. Our goal is to help you get well and stay well. We know from experience
that most mechanical conditions return gradually over a period of months and
become more advanced each time. The only way this can be prevented is with exercise.
We expect you to be successful.

We offer treatment of these conditions at various levels for all
patients. We expect that you will follow this treatment plan through to its
logical conclusion of restoration of complete function and rehabilitation. Our
management system is designed to help you remember all of your appointments
and to be fully compliant with all of our recommendations. At any time, should
you decide to discontinue the process, please just let us know so that we don't
become a bother.

Expectations: We understand that you have come here for
help. We have spent many years learning the best ways to solve the problems
of mechanical back and neck pain. We expect you to comply with our recommendations
and follow our treatment schedule completely regardless of the treatment plan
you have. We expect you to set all of the recommended appointments at times
convenient for you and we expect you to keep all of them. We expect you to respond
favorably and know that your 100% compliance is the determining factor. We also
expect you to attend our next class on Absolute Spinal Health. The staff can
give you a schedule of the next class.

Other Information At our class on Absolute Spinal Health,
we discuss mechanical conditions of the back, neck and spine and teach you ways
to prevent mechanical conditions from occurring. We also offer a wide variety
of health information at our web site. www.piclilnic.com All patients are welcome
to use our information to improve your life and maintenance your spinal health.

LIFE STYLE CHANGES: Long periods of stress should be avoided.
Do not sleep or lie on your stomach and avoid activities that hyper extend the
neck. Water intake should generally be increased substantially unless you already
drink the proper range of water intake. Ask the doctor if you are not certain.

SUPPLEMENTATION: B complex, and Trace Minerals: These supplements
have proven effective in long-term prevention of deterioration of joint tissues.
This may help reduce the mechanical breakdown associated with three joint complex
problems.

HOME REMEDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Utilize ice packs on
the neck back for 10 minutes at a time and moist heat packs on the muscles of
the upper back at 20 minutes at a time, not simultaneously and not more often
than once per hour. This should continue until the arm pain or numbness disappears.
Hot tubs provide buoyancy and may be used after 5 days of onset for temporary
relief. MAINTENANCE: Regular spinal adjustments are important to reduce the
symptoms of cervical brachial syndrome. Patients who receive monthly spinal
manipulation and therapy report fewer complications with cervical Brachial syndrome.
It is important that you follow your chiropractic physician's advice about the
frequency of treatment for your particular condition.